Am I the type of guy who means what I say?

[Eustace]

I don't know what to do anymore. I don't like staying here all day, but it's easier than going anywhere else.

Except I'm beginning to run out of food.

[Mandy]

I don't know if writing in here is the best way to tell you about this, but I'd rather - wanted to get down the details while they're fresh in my head, especially as I'm not entirely sure how soon you'll be returning to the flat.

Your father just came calling, and he wasn't very happy when I said you were out - nor did he believe me, it seems, given that he pushed his way into the flat to check for himself. I know I've only met your father a handful of times, so while it's not my place to judge, he seemed rather out of sorts - very angry and such.

I'm supposed to tell you that he'll be back and that you should make your way home soon or there'll be consequences.

He also said - Did he - That's the gist of it, really, though he said a few other things - I'm not certain I was meant to hear them, really.

[Sun Hee Moon]

If you feel as though you'd like company, please don't hesitate to come by Mandy's and my flat. If you'd rather be alone, of course, that's completely understandable. But please at least write to let me know that you're aren't hurt - physically, I mean - injured. I don't know if you even went to that auction, but I haven't seen your name in Longbottom's post. If you're in St. Mungo's I'll come visit, if you'd like me to. I just don't know what -

And it's back to the Wizengamot again, hopefully this time to stay. They simply can't send us back to work at Hogwarts now that it's been proven not once but twice to be far too hazardous for us young "volunteers", many of whom are still students. Talking of school, I'm rather looking forward to actually working at the Ministry, as that will make it much easier to get in volunteer hours on weekdays.

And as boring as I was in quarantine, I doubt that my journal would've provided much entertainment. Except: Lisa Turpin and Beatrice Dunstan.

[Padma Patil]

I don't know if you saw my earlier post regarding Mandy's birthday, but Anthony suggested that you might be particularly helpful. Could you make plans with Mandy after work on Friday so she doesn't come back to the flat right away? I estimate we will only need an hour or two to prepare.

[1998 Ravenclaws]

As I'm sure many of you know, Mandy's birthday is next week. As I'm currently living with her and not paying rent, I thought it would be the least I could do to arrange something for her birthday.

Perhaps one of you could make plans to take her somewhere after work on Friday for about an hour and we can make it a surprise party. I can pick up a cake on my way back to the flat. If anybody would like to help with decorations or some such that would be welcome, as I doubt I'd do a very good job.

If you think there are other people I ought to invite, I'll gladly accept any suggestions. However, I would like to keep this somewhat small, which is why I've excluded the Ravenclaws from my year, as to the best of my knowledge Mandy is not particularly good friends with any of them.

[Private]

My mother and father have insinuated that it's silly of me to move out when I'll just be returning to Hogwarts come September. What they don't seem to realise is that this may not be the case. They aren't the ones who see the ruins - yes, I say ruins and not castle - on a daily basis. There are those who would point out the progress we've made in Reconstruction, and while this is a valid point (on a somewhat related note, I'm certain I've gained a significant amount of muscle mass in the past three months - not that anyone seems to have noticed), I would argue that there is simply too much to do before September.

Even in the case that Hogwarts is ready on time, I am of the opinion that this has been a valuable experience. The pros far outweigh the cons.

Pros I am more independent than when I was living at home, though it can be argued that as I am not paying rent I am only as independent as I ever was at Hogwarts. When I talk to my parents, we are less likely to row since we no longer have to put up with each other as often. Thalia, as well, has been easier to get along with, though I admit we usually do not have a problem with that. I get to see Mandy every day. Her presence makes it rather easy to ignore this silly book and the hordes of people who write in it, though I do think it proves useful at times. Bradford is considerably more exciting than Hathersage.

Cons Our cooking is not as good as my mother's. It's true that Mandy has been improving, and at any rate she's more talented in the kitchen than I am, but the point stands. I do still feel slightly guilty that I am unable to pay rent. I am less than fond of Mandy's cat.

Mandy's birthday is at the end of this month.

I have found a glaring flaw in the Ministry Work Programme, aside from the seemingly arbitrary assignment of Departments. It concerns age discrimination. I fail to understand why students in the class of 1998 are permitted to work full time and a salary whilst those of us in the would-be class of 1999 can only volunteer part time. If we are considered capable enough to work for the Ministry, why restrict our hours?

The lack of a paycheque makes it practically impossible to move out of this house in which I am still treated like a child. I suppose I ought to find a job outside of the Ministry, as much as I have never imagined myself pursuing a different path.

You lot seem rather fond of telling people where they ought and ought not go; do you have suggestions as to which places might be hiring?

Working for the Wizengamot has been an immeasurably better use of my skills than working in Reconstruction. I suppose I ought to enjoy the irony that when I do accomplish my goal of working for the Ministry, it's in one of few areas in which I have little interest and am not likely to excel. Yet I find it difficult to appreciate even irony in such a poor situation.

I mean no offence when I propose that he who suggested utilizing barely-trained teenagers in Reconstruction perhaps didn't think it through. It's an exceedingly dangerous setting, as many of the Reconstruction team discovered this past week. I am quite lucky to have remained unscathed and thus capable of volunteering in the Wizengamot for the time being.

[Private]

I do wonder that the Ministry isn't more concerned about our mental and emotional health than our physical health. Of course, I understand that those students who participated in the battle - and even those who didn't participate but nonetheless suffered losses - are likely to need counseling. It's just grating that the Ministry is so eager to provide that when they don't seem to care about those of us who were more-or-less randomly selected to work at Hogwarts for the next who knows how long.

I am not weak. But nor am I used to doing manual labor on a daily basis. Terrence would be good at this. I'm loathe to complain in public because that may be misunderstood - or because there are those who would accuse me of not being sympathetic to those who do need counseling.

[6th year Ravenclaws + Mandy Brocklehurst]

I'm assuming all of you have made it home safely, but I would appreciate receiving confirmation.

I do hope the Professors Carrow are not intending to let these corpses, real or fake as they may be, decay above us. I can't imagine that's sanitary.

I'm becoming increasingly thankful that my sister is a Slytherin, though I'm not sure how she -- or anyone, for that matter -- can be expected to take her meals in such conditions.

Despite the fact that jarveys are more complex creatures than owls, I thought they were, in a way, easier to perform the Killing Curse on. Owls serve an important function in our society; jarveys are more than a bit impolite and, apparently, unable to be cured of this flaw.

I am glad that I had the opportunity for extra practise on those jarveys assigned to less competent and/or compliant students (meaning no offence, of course, to those that may fall into the "less competent" category, as I'm sure you must have strengths in some area). All the same, I feel fortunate that I do not have classes after Dark Arts on Thursday, as I did find myself somewhat fatigued after the lesson.

I'd never actually seen fiendfyre before tonight. I'm glad I had the opportunity.

It was vastly more interesting to observe than those Muggles- certain other occurrences of late. I may have to read up on it. I think I shall. It'll be more fun than reviewing heating and cooling charms, in any case.

I don't know what the Ministry was getting at with "Take Your Child to Work Day." Nor do I understand why my father insisted on dragging me to the DMLE with him against my wishes. I highly resent the fact that my family actually cares about my future and wants to help me start making Ministry contacts early on.

The only good that came out of this was the realisation that our generation is so much more sensible in these matters. I can't describe the pride I felt in being lumped into the same group as numerous other Ministry children who, in a highly organised and undoubtedly effective fashion, managed to evade their parental escorts and indeed to resist all knowledge they were intended to gain from the experience.

If I learned anything at all yesterday, it's how truly ineffective our Ministry is and that I would never waste my time pursuing a career there.


Oh, would you look at that. It's April Fool's Day.

I'm not gonna stop
( that's who I am )
I'll give it all I got
that is my plan